I had to share this precious photo sent to me by a “music mom”. I am sure this little student was overcome with exhaustion after a particularly productive practice session. I wonder if she was dreaming of playing at Carnegie Hall?
I love to colour. The mindless rhythmic motion as you fill in the white spaces with a rainbow of hues is satisfying and calming. You know when you go to a restaurant and the wait staff gives your kids a page to colour and a handful of crayons to keep them busy while they wait for their meals? Well,…
This month I had a Canadian composer visit my students and the students of a colleague. Tyler Seidenberg was born in Oakville and while in highschool began a compositional journey that culminated in a series of solos/duets for piano. His work is both interesting and challenging for the growing musician. I often hear “sweet” from students during an intro to…
My students are familiar with the phrase, “the metronome is your friend!” It is a phrase I find myself repeating frequently. Usually the phrase is greeted with a moan or an eye roll or an “I know”. Despite this,I still repeat the phrase with the hope that eventually my students will realize yes, the metronome really is their…
About a month ago my husband bought me an early Christmas present – a shiny new Macbook. It is the prettiest little laptop with backlit keys and a glowing apple on the lid. Anyone who has used a Mac (especially a new one) understands the learning curve that I have had to climb to navigate…
Today was day 3 of classes at the new studio location. (17 Goshen St.) What a wonderful place to welcome students and parents, and what a wonderful place to work! I am thrilled to be teaching in such a spacious, professional, yet “homey” environment. The biggest pay off for the last 3 weeks of exhausting…
I love the following words from Haim Ginott. I first read it when I was an undergrad in university. It was in the “Ask Ada” column of the city paper and I cut it out. I still have that worn piece of newsprint and the passage has been my own personal teaching guideline ever since….
